How schools use zone system for class plans

Jessica Pickens

Friday

Mar 7, 2014 at 12:01 AMMar 7, 2014 at 4:35 PM

Morning snow and sleet meant no school for students in the northernmost part of the county Friday. But the rest of the county’s students were in class as only a cold rain covered most other communities.

Despite the varying weather, many questioned the different schedules, including numerous posts on The Star’s Facebook page.

Cleveland County Schools made the scheduling decisions based on its seldom-used zone system. The district is divided into four zones that correspond with the high schools and middle schools – Burns, Kings Mountain, Crest and Shelby. The system also has district-wide schools such as Turning Point Academy, North Shelby School and Cleveland Early College High School. If one school zone closes, those districtwide schools are closed, Boyles said.

“(Friday) is an example of where the zones are the best option for us,” CCS Superintendent Dr. Bruce Boyles said. “We were seeing rain in most of the county, but we started seeing significant snow in the very northern part of the county. We had multiple buses that would have been driving through multiple inches of snow.”

The school board has not yet decided when the Burns zone will make up the snow day, Boyles said.

Cleveland County Schools students already have five days to make up due to snow in late January and mid-February.

The last time the zones were used was in the last one or two years for an early dismissal, Boyles said.

“We saw the snow coming across the South Mountains a few years ago and released students early,” Boyles said. “Typically the snow comes from the south or the west and affects the whole county.”

School leaders examine if weather is affecting more than one zone. If multiple zones are affected, all county schools will be closed.

“It’s all about safety and Friday we didn’t feel like it was safe to travel in the northern end of the county,” Boyles said. “People who may question delays, we are always trying to work on the side of safety.”

How do the school zones work?

-The county is divided into four zones determined by high school attendance areas. Elementary, intermediate and middle schools are the feeder schools and operate on the high school schedule.

-The four zones are Burns, Kings Mountain, Shelby, Crest

-Classes may be cancelled in one or two zones. Schools throughout the county will close when more than two zones are cancelled.

Source: Cleveland County Schools policy manual

How many vehicles travel to school in the morning district wide?

- 175 buses

- 8,000 to 10,000 drivers

- 3,000 student drivers

*Numbers approximate

Readers respond

The Star’s Facebook fans responded to the school zones scheduling decision Friday. Here’s a sample of some of those comments. Want to join the conversation? “Like” The Shelby Star on Facebook.

“Zones were developed soon after merger took place because of the distance between areas like Casar and Township 1. This is a big county and we can get totally different weather patterns. I can only remember one other time it was used. The system can close up to two zones. If three need to be closed, the whole system is closed. The process is spelled out in the policy and procedures manual which is available on the schools web site.”

Jo Powell Boggs

“That is just the weirdest thing I have ever heard. Do they all not operate under the same school board?”

Pamela DeVaughn

“Yea they all have the same school board but had to break up into zones due to weather situations like this morning and other things they may happen.”